The Human Body: Lift the Flap and Learn by P. Hédelin

This book provides an introduction to the human body and its functions. It is one book in the (so far) three part “Lift the Flap and Learn” series published by Owl Kids. Intended for children aged four and up, the flaps, pull tabs, rotating wheels, and sliding pieces make for an interactive reading experience. Beginning readers will definitely need help with some of the terminology. Some of the tabs were a bit sticky at first, especially the ones manipulating multiple slats, but overall the tabs seem fairly sturdy.

The book begins with a simple explanation of how babies are created and born. It then progresses through descriptions and visuals of the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. The two-page section about the nervous system provides an overview of the brain, but provides limited reference to nerves in the rest of the body. The book also covers the five senses, dental health and sickness. There are messages scattered throughout about how to stay healthy; these messages encourage brushing your teeth, eating well, and getting a good night’s sleep.

The cartoon-like illustrations would appeal to children, as the simplified images will not overwhelm them with anatomical detail. There is a good text to image ratio. The text is in a sufficiently large font size, and most images are quite colourful. Some true anatomical names are used. Several have pronunciations indicated in parentheses but others (such as the term bronchial) do not. These terms may pose problems for early readers. In general, this book provides a simple and accurate introduction to the human body.

Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars

Reviewer: Trish Chatterley

Trish is a Public Services Librarian for the John W. Scott Health Sciences Library at the University of Alberta. In her free time she enjoys dancing, gardening, and reading books of all types.